Article by Jackson Barrett, courtesy of The West Australian.
Australian runner Jessica Hull has won an emotional breakthrough silver medal in the final of the women’s 1500m — the country’s first on the track in more than a decade.
Hull ran second to Kenyan legend Faith Kipyegon, who became the second athlete after Usain Bolt to twice defend a track-and-field gold medal, and ahead of Great Britain’s Georgia Bell.
The 27-year-old ran a time of 3.52:56, the second-fastest by an Australian athlete ever.
It sealed the first medal on the track for the nation since hurdles star Sally Pearson’s triumph in London, 12 years ago, and with seven podium appearances, the country’s most successful athletics meet at an overseas Olympics.
“It’s a pretty damn special feeling,” Hull said.
“I couldn’t imagine gold feeling any better than this, silver feels pretty damn good.
“And to get silver behind the greatest we’ve ever seen, Faith Kipyegon, and watch her do a three-peat, this is most ideal podium. It’s so special.”
Kipyegon ran a 3:51.29, nestling herself in the breakaway group and then powering past fellow medal fancies on the final lap.
Hull settled into a position just forward of the middle of the pack in a strung-out field setting a roaring pace through the first two laps.
Then a group of eight, that also included Kipyegon emerged to take them towards the business end. The Kenyan and the Australian were virtually shoulder-to-shoulder when they took the bell.
Kipyegon pushed away with 300m to race and Hull, who kept with her until the final 100, then held off a surging field to win her silver medal.
Australia’s first-ever Olympian, Edwin Flack, and track champion Herb Elliott are the only two Australians to win gold in the 1500m, while John Landy won bronze on home soil in 1956.
Hull dropped to her knees post-race and shared a hug with Kipyegon before greeting her family and running a lap of honour draped in an Australian flag.
“I think I just took the longest victory lap in the world and I won a silver medal,” she joked.
“Do you know how many Australians are here? It’s actually crazy. There was a ‘Go Jess’ chant at the start line and I was just like ‘what is going on’ it was amazing. It’s pretty special.”
The New South Welshwoman also broke the 2000m world record at a Diamond League meet just weeks before the Games. She said she could never have imagined her rise this year.
“It’s been a huge month. A month ago I couldn’t have anticipated the ride I would go on with Paris Diamond League, Monaco and now an Olympic silver medal,” Hull said.
“I appreciate everyone’s support and well wishes.”
United States broke an Olympic record in a heart-stopping 4x400m where 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin resisted the fast finish of new 200m king Letsile Tebogo. Great Britain claimed bronze.
Then a lightning fast second leg from Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set up the double in the women’s 4x400m relay. The United States were more than 60m ahead of second-placed Netherlands, spearheaded by Femke Bol.
Jamaica’s devastating track meet continued in a did-not-finish after their second runner knocked the baton against the thigh of a rival and lose control.
After its gold medal was split in Tokyo, a thrilling high-jump jump-off led to a gold medal for New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr ahead of USA’s Shelby McEwen.
Kerr jumped 2.38m to clinch gold.
